Michael Ray Says ‘Real Men Love Jesus’ Is the ‘Closest Song to Me’

Michael Ray's second single, "Real Men Love Jesus," is at the opposite end of the spectrum from his debut, "Kiss You in the Morning." Ray stopped by ToC Nights studio and opened up about the single and why he chose to go a different direction after success with his first release.

Ray's first single, "Kiss You in the Morning," dropped February of 2015 and became a No. 1 song on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart, so the bar was high for song No. 2, which came later in the year. "Real Men Love Jesus" is a more mature approach to music and a more traditional country route. Ray thought it was a no-brainer.

“It’s probably the closest song to me on the record," he explains. "I heard it just after I lost my grandfather and I felt like it really embodied him and the men I was raised by. I knew it had to be on the record. When it came time to pick a second single we wanted to go the opposite of ‘Kiss You in the Morning’ and show a different side right off the bat. ‘Real Men Love Jesus’ was just the strongest to do that."

"Real Men Love Jesus" is from Ray's Michael Ray, which is now available for download on iTunes. The album is his first release on Warner Bros. Records and also includes "Kiss You in the Morning" among the 12 tracks.

Sam Alex is the host of Taste of Country Nights radio, a syndicated night show which airs on more than 60 Townsquare Media Group stations nationwide.

See Pictures of Michael Ray on Tour With Kip Moore